February 23, 2013

Baingan ka bharta - Vaingana bharta recipe - Brinjal bharta

Vaingana bharta in bowl
Baingan ka bharta recipe - Brinjal bharta is a delicious accompaniment to all varieties of Indian flat bread. It pairs excellent with jowar roti or bhakri. It is absolutely easy to prepare and healthy too. Burn the brinjal directly on stove top, make a flavorful onion tempering and mix all the ingredients to combine well. Soft and smoky flavored bharta gets ready with few steps. Any  variety of large or medium sized brinjal can be used to make this dish. I had two deep purple  brinjals in my fridge. Out of them I used one brinjal  for making bharta and another one is used to make salad. Here is the easy recipe to get the perfect bharta.

February 18, 2013

Strawberry raita recipe

Strawberry raita in a serving bowl
Strawberry raita recipe - This sweet and sour raita is a perfect accompaniment  for pulao, spicy rice or biryani. It also goes well with poori and phulka. Even I like to have it as it is. Strawberry is a seasonal fruit which is available only a few months and it is a perishable fruit. So I make milkshake and raita when it is available fresh. Earlier, I was making only milkshake with it,

February 14, 2013

Nuggekayi, badnekayi sambar - Drumstick brinjal sambar

drumstick brinjal sambar in a serving plate
Nuggekayi, badnekayi sambar recipe - Drumstick and brinjal have always been my favorite vegetables. These are another such combination which can be used to make sambar. Sambar is a South Indian signature dish served with idli, dosa, uttappa, vada or steamed rice. In this sambar recipe, drumstick and brinjal is boiled to soft and added to the cooked toor dal. This traditional sambar can be prepared quick with easy steps. I make it often, it makes a delicious accompaniment to South Indian main meal. This sambar has an awesome flavor. Try this simple recipe and enjoy the taste of South Indian cuisine.

February 08, 2013

Sambar powder recipe - Sambar masala without dry coconut

South Indian sambar masala image
Sambar powder recipe -This is a very flavorful and durable sambar powder which can be stored for about an year. I have not used dry coconut in this sambar masala to increase the shelf life of t it. Instead, I use fresh coconut paste when I prepare sambar. Small kids usually do not like spicy food. Therefore, I have used only forty  byadagi dry red chillies in this sambar powder which is rich in colour and less spicy. Byadagi red chillies are less pungent and deep in red colour in comparison to spicy  Guntur dry red chillies. While making sambar, I adjust chilli powder according to our taste.

January 27, 2013

Fruit salad with vanilla flavoured custard powder recipe

fruit salad in a serving bowl
Fruit salad with vanilla flavoured custard powder - This is a healthy dessert made with milk, sugar, fruits and flavored custard powder. The combination of  both the vanilla flavor and fruits flavor makes this dish very aromatic and rich. When my kids were small, I used to make it often. A great way to make them eat fruits and they love it too. In this dish I have used fruits available with me. Any soft seasonal fruits can be used to make this super easy fruit salad. It tastes absolutely delicious and an ideal dessert for fruit lovers. It is an easy dessert which can be made for any get-together and potluck party.

January 22, 2013

Alambe phodi recipe - Mushroom phodi recipe


mushroom phodi in a serving bowl
Alambe phodi recipe - This is a mushroom based side dish for steamed rice and chapatis. This can also be served as an appetizer or snack.  A really easy and tasty dish prepared with fresh mushrooms, applied with red masala paste, coated with semolina and shallow fried. This type of mushroom fritters are popularly known as alambe phodi in konkani. Marinated mushrooms are  coated with semolina  and then shallow fried to make a delicious phodi. It is very simple to prepare and very hot in taste. You can adjust  the quantity of chilly powder to suit your taste buds.

January 18, 2013

Boiled corn on the cob with lime and chilly powder - Boiled bhutta - How to boil corn on the cob

corn on the cob in a serving plate
Boiled corn on the cob with lime and chilly powder recipe - Boiling  corn on the cob or bhutta directly in water or pressure cook them is the easiest way to prepare corn for eating. Grilling is another method to prepare corn, but I prefer boiling it in the salt water and then rub it with lime, salt and chilly powder.  But you can  also apply butter or cheese over it. It can be prepared easily at home only with two steps. If you prefer to roast the corn, just place it directly on stove flame and with the help of tongs, rotate it to roast evenly.

January 14, 2013

Tilgul shenga vadi recipe - Ellu bellada vadi - Sesame peanut burfi

til gud vadi in a serving plate
Tilgul shenga vadi recipeWishing you all a very happy Makar SankrantiIt is Makar Sankranti today and I made this sesame jaggery vadi to celebrate the occasion. In Karnataka and Maharashtra there is a custom to distribute til or sesame seeds and guld or jaggery and haldi, kumkum during makar sankranti. 

January 11, 2013

Apple milkshake recipe - How to make apple milkshake

Apple milkshake in serving glasses
Apple milkshake recipe - There is a saying  "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and it is true. Apple in any form is good for health. It has numerous health benefits. Apple is antioxidant and packed with vitamins and minerals. The Apple  Milkshake is a perfect breakfast drink for kids and adults. It is delicious and filling and can be made in a jiffy. You can make it more healthier by using honey instead of sugar. Even it can be served at room temperature during winter season. During summer you can also add one scoop of your favorite ice cream. Ingredients can be adjusted in this milkshake as per your taste and requirement.

January 10, 2013

Gajar halwa recipe - How to make carrot halwa

Gajar halwa in a serving plate
Gajar halwa recipe - Carrot halwa is a very popular traditional Indian dessert made with carrots, milk, ghee and sugar. This is another easy carrot recipe that can be prepared quickly. Saute the carrots in ghee, then add the milk and sugar and simmer till the mixture becomes thick. The addition of proper amount of sugar takes this halwa to the next level. The cardamom powder adds an extra flavor to this dessert. 

December 29, 2012

Methi moong dal sabzi - Methi green gram dal sabzi

Methi moong dal sabzi in a serving bowl
Methi moong dal  sabzi recipe - This is a side dish prepared with  fenugreek leaves and split green grams. This is a very healthy accompaniment for any main meal with the goodness of methi leaves and moong dal. The combination of leafy vegetables and dal create a nutritious side dish. It is mildly spiced with chili powder and flavored with the tempering made with asafoetida, cumin seeds, onion and garlic. Fenugreek leaves are one of the most popular and easily available leafy vegetables in India. They are slightly bitter in taste but the addition of green gram dal reduces the bitterness of fenugreek leaves.

December 28, 2012

Tomato raisin chutney recipe - Chutney for roti and paratha

Tomato raisin chutney in a serving bowl
Tomato raisin chutney recipe - This  is a slightly sweet chutney with ginger and garlic flavor. It is a very simple chutney recipe even a beginner can adapt quickly. It is a side dish option and pairs well with methi thepla and paneer cabbage paratha . I have used raisins in this recipe which gives a unique taste to the chutney. Always I reserve some tomatoes for this chutney preparation. I have already posted mint coriander chutney which also goes well with parathas.